Reiter Rides to 24th in Sochi PGS

ROSA KHUTOR, Russia (Feb. 19) – Team USA’s sole alpine snowboarder Justin Reiter (Steamboat Springs, CO) finished 24th Wednesday during the parallel giant slalom event of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games. U.S. born Russian Federation athlete Vic Wild earned the gold medal. The men’s event is set to air on NBC’s Late Night Olympic coverage at 1:00 a.m. Wednesday night, and the entire competition can be streamed on NBCOlympics.com. Reiter gets another shot at an Olympic medal Saturday Feb. 22 at the parallel slalom, the final snowboarding event at the 2014 Games.

Reiter was not able to advance through the qualification round after he hooked a heel edge and lost too much time in the top of the course.

The 2013 World Snowboard Championships silver medalist was named to the Olympic Team after scoring a World Cup podium in Sudelfeld, Germany in January, but has been working toward the Olympics since childhood. Recently, Reiter prepared for the 2014 Olympic season by training, working and living out of his truck.

U.S. born Russian Federation athlete Vic Wild earned the gold medal for the men just a few minutes after his Russian wife, Alena Zavarzina, took the bronze in the women’s PGS event.

Nevin Galmarini of Switzerland and Zan Kosir of Slovenia won the silver and bronze for the men.

The event is set to air on NBC’s Late Night Olympic coverage at 1:00 a.m. Wednesday night, and the entire competition can be streamed on NBCOlympics.com.

Reiter gets another shot at an Olympic medal Saturday Feb. 22 at the parallel slalom, the final snowboarding event at the 2014 Games.

QUOTESJustin ReiterBecoming an Olympian was a big goal. Earning a medal? Huge goal. But performing to my ability…I didn’t do that today, and that bums me out.

The conditions weren’t in my favor today. I wasn’t prepared for it. I prepared for something a little bit softer based on the weather. That’s still no excuse. I need to be ready for it and unfortunately I just couldn’t execute. I got stuck on a heelside edge, got a little bit twisted up and couldn’t make up the difference. So I ended up in 24th, which is probably my worst result in about two years now.

Today was pretty brutal. It was harder than everyone expected, in terms of actual texture. I had underestimated how much chemicals they had actually put into the snow and that it would harden that much.

I do believe I can win a medal and thankfully we have another event that’s coming up. Most people think that I’m a better slalom rider. I have a lot of good results there.

Jeremy Forster, Director of Snowboarding and FreeskiingCongratulations to Vic Wild on his gold medal in PGS. We have always respected Vic's decision to ride for Russia and are happy to see him find success here in Sochi.